On Thursday 22nd June, our Operations Manager, Graeme, and Senior Team Leader, Craig, got the chance to visit Tottenham Hotspur’s Training Centre, Hotspur Way, for an exclusive tour with Perennial to celebrate 4th Corner’s 20th Anniversary.
The world-renowned, one-of-a-kind, 85-acre site has been designed with environmental protection and sustainability at its forefront. Home to 15 grass pitches surrounded by restored historic hedgerows and field boundaries, 150 new and semi-mature trees and thousands of new plants and flowers, there’s a stunning array of horticultural attractions to explore.
Led by Training Grounds Manager, Nick Phillips, and Landscape Manager, Sam Simper, the private tour included the stunning player relaxation areas, including a sunken crescent garden and a BBQ area surrounded by rockery. As well as this, Craig and Graeme were able to view the attenuation pond, organic kitchen garden and orchard, as well as the sedum green roof on the main building, which enables the capture and re-harvesting of rain water across the centre.
Over 10% of energy is produced on site through some form of renewable source such as the photovoltaic array on the main building roof and the air-source heat pumps which provides the building cooling system.
As grounds maintenance (and football) aficionados, they were, of course, most excited to discover the secrets of Spurs’ luscious, green pitches. They were able to see the First Team’s Pitch 1 up close, which is stitched together to strengthen it and avoid indents, and split into three to be pushed under the stands when the stadium hosts other events, like the Ariana Grande concert last year.
Craig and Graeme both agreed that the Spurs’ grounds were “very impressive”. Thank you to Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in horticulture, and their families, when times get tough. Perennial provides free and confidential advice, information and support to people working in, or retired from, horticulture.
Look out for more details on how we’re celebrating our 20th Anniversary, including staff meet ups, a day out at GroundsFest, and a skydive in support of Perennial.
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Celebrating 20 Years of 4th Corner
